Sermons

What are the systems that structure our world to which God says, zealously, furiously, NO? Where in our common life do we find Jesus turning over tables? How are those systems that God condemns—the inequality, injustice and exploitation we call sin—thriving among us, we who are the temple of God?

Emilee Walker-Cornetta: An economy overturned

Our seminarian takes us through the different layers of Biblical interpretation using the Song of Songs. How have Christians interpreted this sensual love poems? What can in mean for us today? Join us for virtual coffee hour Sunday at 11:30am for a discussion of today’s forum.

The Forum: The Song of Songs Bible 101 with Seminarian Emilee Walker-Cornetta

This forum is part of our ongoing discussion around housing policy. Professor Todd Swantrom has studied housing policy and justice throughout his career. He came to St. Louis, in part, to study the "most depopulated city in the world." He talks about the concept of gentrification and asks whether St. Louis is actually experiencing its effects.

Click here for the slides :https://holycommunion.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/GentrificationPresentation.4.13.21.pdf

The Forum: Housing Policy and Gentrification with Professor Todd Swanstrom

The early church in Acts encounters God’s Spirit working in people who are unlike them, that perhaps may even offend them, and as they do, they are invited to convert all over again to the way of God in Christ. Beholding the unconventional, but also unquestionable work of the Spirit, they face the question: are you ready?

Seminarian Emilee Walker-Cornetta:  Conversion at the crossroads

Our priest associate, the Rev. Marc Smith, explores the fundamental elements of faithful discipleship in "What Would God Have Me Do:  Micah on Discipleship."

The Forum: Bible 101 Micah on Discipleship with the Rev. Marc Smith

This Mother's Day, an unconventional sermon. The rector invited three mothers in the congregation to talk about their experience of mothering. We give thanks for Debbie Nelson-Linck, Karen Payne, Emilee Walker Cornetta, and all mothers and those who practice mothering virtues.

The Rev. Mike Angell: Complicating Mothers Day

Tired of the pandemic?  Frustrated by vax deniers?  Angered by so many preventable deaths?  Us, too!  Join the Rev. Marc Smith, our priest associate for a discussion of the plagues which descended on Ancient Egypt and eventually forced Pharoah to "let God's people go."  God's message to the people of Israel, as well as the Egyptian empire, have much to teach us about our response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Forum Bible 101: The Plagues of Egypt and COVID with the Rev. Dr. Marc Smith

The wisdom of the cross asks us to see the painful truths, to see the suffering of climate change, not to avert our gaze, and the wisdom of the cross asks us to also see the beauty that can happen even in the ugliest of situations. The wisdom of the cross is that dread does not have the last word. There is always a reason to hope. There is always a reason to call our fellow human beings to stop living out of fear, to stop living in denial, to work with hope for new life.

The Rev. Mike Angell: The Wisdom Of The Cross And Climate Change

In the midst of our "Season of Creation" our rector interviews Dr. Rachel Penczykowski, assistant professor of biology at Washington University studying "disease ecology." We talk about climate change, disease/host interactions, and about faith in response to human driven environmental change. Join us Sunday September 26 at 9am on the Front Lawn of the church for a discussion about the forum.

The Forum: Ecology and Disease with Dr. Rachel Penczykowski

Brought to you by Grace GatheringS. We host Terrie Desloge of Synapsory. Terrie offers personal experience, practical tools and ways for spiritual communities to be in a supportive & mutual relationship with individuals with specific needs, and diverse abilities and their parents and caregivers.

The forum: Please Don't Stare with Terrie Desloge

The Rev. Julie Graham preaches on the young man who comes to Jesus to ask, "what more must I do?" Jesus' response, to love, counters our expectations.

The Rev. Julie Graham: To Be Good Or To Be Loved?

Christian Art theologian, Lisa Thorpe discusses her work, "Na'amah of the Ark" with the Rev. Julie Graham. The piece will be on loan to Holy Communion through Advent.

The Forum: Exploring the Sacred Feminine; What's lost , Whats found" with Lisa Thorpe

This week on the Forum our presenters ask, what is it about the music of this season? Join us for an informative and at times hilarious romp through Christmas music past and present: the good, the bad, the sacred and the secular.

The Forum: Christmas Music and Nostalgia with Eliana Haig and Alex Stefaniak

The wisest spiritual teachers say control is, almost always, an illusion. With one important exception...

The Illusion Of Control -The Rev. Mike Angell

Preaching on Jesus' reading of Isaiah in the synagogue, the Rev. Julie Graham asks, "what do you do if you believed the Spirit of God is upon you?"

First things First - The Rev. Julie Graham

As we come to the end of the church year, the rector pauses to reflect. What does it mean to live in God's time? What does it mean to tell the sacred story again and again? How do we believe, against all the false tales the world wants to hand us, that we are God's beloved?

In God's Time - The Rev. Mike Angell

The Rev. Mike Angell preaches on Sunday. Holy Week teaches us, for Christians, there is no escaping pain and loss. The only way out is through, and the only way through is together.

Palm Sunday Stay Human- The Rev. Mike Angell

On Good Friday, the Rev. Julie Graham wonders what it means that Jesus died on the cross. She invites us to see the day not in a transactional way, but in a way that opens us to those who suffer.

God Will Open A Way To Life: The Rev. Julie Graham

On Easter morning, we find Mary at the tomb, weeping. "Why are you crying?" she is asked. I suspect many of us know, know in our bones this pain, this grief. Easter is the story not just of Jesus rising up, but of Mary too. Mary goes to tell good news from the graveyard. Mary is sent so the world may know, hope is never finally dead.

Easter Tells Us 'Rise Up' : The Rev. Mike Angell

Welcome to Easter part 2. The Rev. Julie Graham preaches on the story of Doubting Thomas

Doubting Thomas- The Rev. Julie Graham

Jesus calls his disciples, on the road to Emmaus "slow of heart." After this week in Missouri, it is easy to see Christians who are too slow to love. LGBTQ+ people, trans people, are being attacked in our state. Our faith isn't about wishing away diversity. At this church we practice knowing in our hearts that all our differences somehow fit within the love of God, which gathers us in one body.

Breaking Bread- The Rev. Mike Angell

We live in the days of constant distraction, with technologies and ideologies competing for our attention. Today it is hard to tune out the angry noise. But if you listen, you can still hear the Good Shepherd's song.

The Shepherd Song- TheRev. Mike Angell

On Pentecost, what do we miss because of our self-protective cynicism? Can we make room for mystery? Can we make room for God's Spirit? Can we learn to trust?

A Little More Pentecostal- The Rev. Mike Angell

On the Feast of the Trinity, the Rev. Julie Graham speaks about the love of the Trinity as a practice of giving up fear.

The Practice of the Trinity- The Rev. Julie Graham

Is your faith a system of belief, or is your faith a journey? How we frame what we mean by faith can determine the kind of Christians we become.

Faith In the Unexpected Journey- The Rev. Mike Angell

The Rev. Chester Hines preaches on Jesus' sending out of the 12 apostles in mission to the world.

Love Everyone- The Rev. Chester Hines

After notifying the congregation that he has taken a new call, the Rev. Mike Angell preaches: "Life comes with complicated emotions. It is okay, when a pastor leaves to feel excited for them, and a bit sad, and a bit angry. It's okay if your emotions are complicated, and it has nothing to do with church too."

Trust - The Rev. Mike Angell

Join us for a conversation with Rabbi Daniel Bogard. Daniel has been co-teaching a class at Eden Seminary this semester on theology and Star Trek. How does science fiction reflect and affect our faith today? Trekkies and non-trekkies are welcome

Theology On Tap Faith And Star  Trek With Rabbi Daniel Bogard

In her last sermon at Holy Communion, the Rev. Loretta Go talks about her time with us. We wish her every blessing in her future ministry. (Apologies for issues with the audio. A lightning strike near the church overnight temporarily disabled some of our equipment).

Led Out to Do God's Work- The Rev. Loretta Go

In our rector's second to last sermon he invites us: "keep seeking to follow Jesus. Don't let the anxieties of the world or the church weigh you down. Keep inviting all the wrong people to the table. Keep gathering in a spirit of gentleness, of humility, keep sharing joy and love."

Discipleship- The Rev. Mike Angell

After 8 years as rector, and hosting theology on Tap, the Rev. Mike Angell is departing to be rector of a congregation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Hannah Shanks interviews him, and the gathering asks questions as we prepare to say goodbye.

Mike Angell's Last Theology on Tap

In his last Sunday at Holy Communion, the Rev. Mike Angell preached a sermon he didn't expect to preach: The parable of the sower is not about faith or performance. Jesus' story is about God's abundant, reckless, love.

Love Recklessly -The Rev. Mike Angell

The Rev. Mike Angell and Prof. Hannah Shanks talk about faith and Harry Potter at our Monthly Theology on Tap Series.

Theology on Tap

Theology on Tap: Harry Potter and the Sacred Story

In the first of our series: "Mondays with the Modern Mystics" the Rev. Mike Angell introduces us to two leading figures in the recovery of Contemplative Christianity: Richard Rohr and Cynthia Bourgeault

Mondays With The Mystics  Richard Rohr And Cynthia Borgeault

The Rev. Dr. Ben Sanders III, assistant professor of theological ethics at Eden Seminary, will be with us as we look at the place of the Black Church within American and worldwide Christianity. Professor Sanders and the Rev. Mike Angell will dialogue together about what it means to be a person of faith in today’s America.

Theology On Tap Interfaith Conversations: The Rev. Dr. Ben Sanders

This class takes us through the "Way of Love" practices of Rest and Pray. What are the practices of Prayer, Contemplation, and reflection that can sustain us from day to day, week to week? How does the balance of contemplation/meditation/prayer encounter a life out in the world. In this session, we will learn about some of the deep resources in the Christian Spiritual tradition, and we will talk about the radical practice of sabbath, or rest (the all too neglected part of the Spiritual life).

Pilgrimage  Sabbath And Contemplative Prayer

The Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion is a welcoming and diverse community seeking to walk in the way of Jesus and to reveal Christ’s reconciling love in our city, nation, and world.

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